As a transmission channel for new thinking within and beyond the UN, and as unique partners at the interface of policy and operational worlds, the seven UN Research and Training Institutes, namely INSTRAW, UNICRI, UNIDIR, UNITAR, UNRISD, UNSSC and UNU are well positioned to induce policy change and innovative practices throughout the UN. 

On 5-6 May, the UN Institutes met with the Secretary-General and his strategic planning team, to develop a set of proposals that will ensure that their collective knowledge base is further harnessed for the benefit of the international community. 

They reaffirmed their commitment to serve as an engine for building capacity, innovation and change within the UN system in a coordinated fashion. Concrete proposals presented to the Secretary-General include a biennial conference that would bring together academics, policy- makers, and trainers and would focus on an issue identified by the Secretary-General as a global priority for the system, and a common portal for all Institutes to present their products, ideas and innovations.